Yes Mark C,

That’s why the Berlin Wall was guarded the way it was! That’s why people risked and lost their lives to escape that “safety catch”.

Communism is all about punishing those who succeed to reward those who don’t even try.

Marc C,

And yet you can afford an internet connection which is more then many people abroad at the moment.

In case you haven’t realised there is an international recession on. It’s tough, no denying it and yes, there are always going to be people who suffer more then others.

But quite frankly, people like you make me sick. Not because of your situation, but because of your attitude.

Because you are not doing too well, you seek to bring down everybody with you, and punish others for doing better. Did it occur to you that the “gaming” scenario, as it was, was bad for Malta in the long run. Do you ever see the bigger picture? Don’t you see the disaster for Malta if Muscat gets elected?

Thank God we do have some safety net in the EU (certainly not communism) that Muscat tried his darnedest to keep us out of, not, I’m sure, because he believed it was better for us but out of pique.

Maybe you are hoping for a return of the Dejma? Good luck with that!

The problem arises when people think they have made some kind of quantum leap into a higher social class. Like you wrote, just because you have money to swim in doesn’t mean that you know how to behave properly. I’m sure we all know people who are rich but behave like troglodytes and people who practically live from hand to mouth but could mingle with the upper classes and hardly be noticed due to their appropriate manners and behaviour.

It is when people either try or want to be, or think they are of a higher status that this causes problems. Their behaviour jars within the social setting they so wish to thrive in and falsely believe they do. When you own something, even if you are proud of it, you should not go to any lengths to advertise it, to flaunt it.

I know so many people who belong to the working class, who have money or assets because they have earned them through hard work and talent, who might not know correct table manners, but who don’t try to be something they’re not. And it is these kinds of people whose very down-to-earth behaviour means they are accepted where the pretentious and the flashy are not.

Mark C – your initial comment was not only full of hate but also ignorant and completely unrealistic – I’d like to know how “il-flus imorru ghal poplu mhux ghalikom” under Muscat. I don’t mean to be rude, but with that attitude no wonder you are jobless. Another point on your joblessness – if I were jobless I would be neither at home reading Daphne’s blog nor going out to waste time but trying my best to find a job, getting better education or training or doing something productive. Ever thought of doing something for yourself rather than expect a job to come your way as though someone owes you a living?

On the question of steaks, I’m truly amazed. So the Labour Party leader is worried because his so-called families who are struggling cannot have a steak every Saturday and instead have to settle for pizza. If the middle and lower-class can afford a steak at a restaurant EVERY Saturday then I must be part of the relatively poor or the absolute poor because for my family an outing to any restaurant, bar, McDonalds has become a luxury. A socialist leader should be less worried about the people who are going out for steaks every weekend and more about how to overcome the problems we are facing both locally and internationally.

On the question of classes I think that unless we remove the socialist/communist/Napoleonic/Mintoffian ideas that the upper classes are made up of barons and nobility and that the lower classes are made up of peasants and that in some way the lower classes need to overthrow the nobility, we will get nowhere. We need to stop stereotyping and denigrating – those in the upper classes should not be demonised. In my mind, an upper class person is one who has first of all the respect of many, who might have large resources and abundant wealth, but who is educated enough to use his wealth wisely and keep it growing, who is polite and does not need to put others down to show where he stands and so much more. There is nothing wrong in being in this class. What is wrong is when you think you are in this class because you have plenty of money but then are rude, ignorant and a downright caveman.

On the other hand, I do not think that these classes still exist. There are rich, middle-income and poor, there is educated, non-educated but trying, and the ignorant, and there is the polite, the rude and the pits. You can be rich, ignorant and rude. You may be middle-income, educated and polite, and you can be poor, polite and although uneducated are trying your best to be better.

[Daphne – Not really. The fact that you know they have leapfrogged from one class to another means that they are still identifiable – by whatever means – as having just arrived from elsewhere.]

David. Communism has it’s good side and bad side just like capitalism. I used to talk to a german collegue about this. She told me about the difference when she left east germany to go to the west during the fall of the berlin wall. Communism offered a safety catch for everyone, No one was left dying of hunger outside unlike capitalist countries. In capitalism it’s a fact that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Look around at all the world and you will see this happening right in front of your eyes. Ofcourse she also told me of the good things capitalism brings such as choice of products, free market enterprise etc.

I understand your point, Mark C., because I’m also unemployed. But chances of finding a job won’t improve by one jot if Labour get elected. In your case, since the loss of your job is the direct result of a decision taken by the government, I can see why you would want to vote Labour.

I didn’t mean to mock you in my previous comment. I only meant to say that “hbieb tal-hbieb” and “bazuzli” and “barunijiet” will exist and thrive whichever party is in power, and that I’ve been shafted by everyone. However, thanks to my EU passport, I can widen my job search .

Fine Daphne, that’s your opinion though. Put yourself in my shoes and you would feel and argue differently I’m sure. I’m not saying that everyone who loses his/her job should blame the gov’ment but when I see everything is done only for show rather than sympathy that’s how I feel myself. Wow 3.1 million saved (social security benefits) mind you from authentic people like me trying to get some goverment help. Those that have been givern relief for years on end on fake addresses or fake claims of injuries are still getting the dough. Everything Dr.Gonzi does is for show. Spending thousands of euros for the pjazza acrobats ..duh it was a fine show but come on. There are more urgent matters. Then they collected money for the parties a few days before those in real need. A fine symbolic gesture of christianity. The parties first, and those in need come after.
Anyway, I’m glad at least we finally agreed on some issues.
I’m off to waste some time becuase at home without work I feel utterly useless and believe me it’s not a nice feeling.